Gus Poyet: I want Chelsea job

Gus Poyet has admitted he would love to succeed Rafa Benitez as the new manager of Chelsea.

Benitez last night confirmed he will leave Chelsea when his contract expires in May, however, despite the Blues claiming it was ‘business as usual’ this morning, the Spaniard’s reign could end before the summer after his forthright and none-too-complimentary assessment of his treatment by the club’s fans and board.

Brighton chief Poyet has previously made no secret of his desire to return to manage the club where he won the FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup during seasons as a player.

And he threw his hat into the ring again this morning for good measure as Blues owner Roman Abramovich ponders hiring a third manager this season.

When asked about the prospect of managing Cheslea, Poyet said: ‘That is my aim, everyone knows and I don’t hide it.

‘I want to go to the highest level and if it is in the Premier League with Chelsea then fantastic, if it is with someone else, then we shall see.’

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho remains the bookmakers’ favourite for the Stamford Bridge hotseat and return for a second stint in west London.

Under-fire: Benitez may not see out the season at Chelsea (Picture: Action Images)

However Poyet, currently rated third by the bookies for the post behind Mourinho and Everton’s David Moyes, has seen his stock rise with Albion.

After taking the reins at the south coast club in 2009, the Uruguayan won the 2010-11 League One title, while this term the 45-year-old has guided the Seagulls into the Championship play-off positions, playing an attractive brand of football to boot – something which would appeal to Abramovich.

Poyet, meanwhile, was coy when asked about Benitez’s headline-grabbing rant following last night’s 2-0 FA Cup win at Middlesbrough.

Benitez claimed fans’ protests over his tenure were damaging the team and a waste of time, while the 52-year-old also appeared to hit out at his employers by questioning the wisdom of his ‘interim’ job title.

Poyet added: ‘His [Benitez’s] reasons I don’t know. We are all different. I would like to meet him and know the reasons, I am sure probably everyone would like to do that.

‘It is very easy to make opinions about other people, what they do and what they say, but we never put ourselves on the other side so it is difficult to comment.’